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Description
Quicker Trailside Repairs to get you Back in the Saddle
Stan's NoTubes developed the Dual Action Repair for Tubeless (DART) to fix damaged tires faster, easier and better than existing plug tools.
Unlike traditional tire plugs, which try to wedge rubber strips into a puncture, the DART creates a chemical reaction with sealant to quickly form a permanent airtight bond.
To create the best repair for tubeless tires possible, Stan's made sure every detail was right. Traditional plug tools were originally developed for car tires, and their long, sharp tips can cause damage to rim tape, or cut hands. Even worse, their plugs can actually expand many punctures because they rely on a tight fit to hold them in place.
In contrast, the DART's plastic tip is barbed to anchor firmly in place and stay put during even the most aggressive riding while being safer for rims, rim tape, and your hands. The material of the DART is also more flexible, and its laser-cut shape is optimized to contour to the shape of different punctures, maximizing surface area to increase the sealing reaction.
As the DART anchors to your tire and creates an instant bond with your sealant, it also won't pull out while riding the way a conventional plug can.
One of the best features of the DART's design is that it doesn't require trimming once inserted, and excess material won't get in the way of your ride. DARTs can't be felt while riding, even on road tires, and they wear smooth naturally.
Extremely light and durable
Designed to be extremely light and durable, the Dart is built around an ergonomic shape that's easy to hold and allows precise DART placement.
Because even the small details are important, the rod that presses DARTs into punctures is made of ultralight, corrosion-resistant and incredibly strong carbon. Additionally, the length of the rod is specifically calibrated to let you insert DARTs to the perfect depth every time, just by pressing until the head of the DART Tool contacts your tire.
Finally, the head of the DART Tool is double-sided and reversible, allowing it to hold two sealed DARTs on each side. This makes it possible to install two DARTs quickly when sealing the largest slices and punctures and even multiple punctures. Clear thread-on caps protect the stored DARTS, keeping them clean and ready to use, while being easy to see through to ensure you have a fresh DART ready for a repair, and quick to unthread for fast deployment.
It all fits together in the Dart, a compact tool that easily fits in any pocket or pack.
Features & Specs:
- Dual action: mechanical fill and chemical reaction activates Stan's sealant to quickly form an instant permanent airtight bond
- Unique barbed plastic tip anchors into the tire, without rim damage or cut hands
- Flexible fabric bonds with sealant, and will not pull out while riding
- Wears off clean,no trimming needed, cannot be felt while riding, even on road tires
- Lightweight, compact tool has an ergonomic shape for precise use
- Clear cap unthreads quickly for rapid deployment
- Tool includes two DART applications, and a built-in valve core remover
- Simple and easy to refill. 5 pack refill sold here.
B-Stock - This product has one or more B-Stock units available. These units can be purchased at a discount (see option select). B-Stock units were returned from other customers and may have missing or damaged packaging materials. These units are otherwise as new. The full manufacturer warranty applies. Click Here for more information.
Specifications
Mfg PartNum: TP0002 | |
Reviews
I find this to be a very fickle tool. If your puncture is just the right size (maybe 2-4mm) it can work. But when it's smaller than that, it's very difficult to push the dart into the puncture, and it usually strips the plug material off the dart when pushing it through. Then you're stuck trying to stuff the material into the puncture with whatever device might work. I will say that IF you happen to get the plug material into the puncture, it works quite well at stopping the leak. I hope Stans goes back to the drawing board with this one. It shows great promise but at this point doesn't work well in the field.
I purchased a few months ago based on a recommendation from my local bike shop. I had my first flat yesterday and pulled out the tool. Inserting the dart was super easy, but unfortunately it did not work at all. After inserting the dart, my tire released MORE air than when it was simply punctured (it was a small leak, not a major hole). I ultimately had to remove the dart and install a tube, which is a messy job on the side of the road! I do not recommend!
For cuts that are too small to seal by themselves, this can be a life-saver -- or not. Darts definitely work better than bacon. On road tubeless they sometimes plug cuts that Dynaplug can't handle, but sometimes Dynaplug works better. They're less expensive than Dynaplug, which is a plus. The biggest problem I've had with the darts is that sometimes the "feathers" separate from the plastic holder as you're trying to insert them into your tire. However, if you're able to insert them properly they usually work well. I've used them with Conti and Orange Seal sealants, as well as Stan's -- all seem to work about the same. The feathers stick out until they wear off (which can take a hundred miles or more), but that doesn't seem to cause any problems or even affect ride quality. Just make sure you keep several darts on board, because you might need several before you successfully plug that cut. Also, don't expect plug cuts larger than a few millimeters. Dynaplug works better for those, because it's pretty hard to get two darts into the same cut.
Wow! The Stans Dart Tool worked great for me. I was a bit concerned after reading some of the reviews, but the dart tool worked so well on my road tire that I had to write this review. I can see where user error could break the tool or the dart. DO NOT insert the dart like you would a bacon strip. While you must twist a bacon strip to plug a puncture, the Stans Dart goes straight in and is pulled straight back up without twisting. My guess is that if you twist the dart during installation you will break the tool or the plug. For best results, position the tire so the puncture is at the top of the tire and the tool is perpendicular to the tire, push the dart straight down into the puncture WITHOUT TWISTING until it can't go any further, then pull it straight back up. The dart releases from the tool and stays in place, sealing the puncture. Works great! I would highly recommend.
I got this for my road bike that I had just put tubeless on a month before. I got a glass cut right in the middle of my tire. I used the dart tools as had seen online and from a friend. It worked well. However, it did not completely seal right then. But it held well enough I could finish the last 25 miles of my ride. When I got up the next day and it was still leaky I added fresh Stans to my tire and pumped it up and it's sealed solid and I've ridden 150 serious miles with it since. Climbing and Descending. I'm got a replacement tire, but I'm rolling with the dart in place for a while longer.
I was really excited to try this out. Got a pesky small puncture that would not fully seal with Stan's. It would seal for a few miles then start spewing sealant again, so I got out my Dart tool and attempted to insert the plug. Much like some of the other reviewers describe, the plastic shaft the dart sits on snapped off, and the same happened with the other side. That was $25 completely wasted.
Got a flat on a gravel tire, small cut that sealant could not seal. Tire puncture was big enough that I could fit a 3 mm allen wrench into it. When I went to insert the dart through the hole, the tip of the dart broke off. Tried the second attached dart, and the same thing happened. The dart tip is made of plastic and it has a grove behind the tip for the fibers to sit in. The inside diameter of the grove is so small, seems less than 1 mm, that it creates a weak point. As you push the dart into the tire puncture, the dart breaks off at the grove, and never has a chance. Bad execution of an otherwise good idea.
Having a flat during a recent tour. I used the Stans NoTubes Dart Tool, spinning the tire to spread sealant, pumped the tire and I was on the way. The tire was excellent for the remaining 9 days on tour.
Couldn't be more disappointed with this plug kit.
6 tips snapped off upon extraction and therefore the cloth didn't stay in the hole.
Only successfully worked one time. Very costly.
Get a traditional sticky plug kit for tubeless. Seriously, what they charge for this is crazy considering
how cheap and ineffective it is.
Luckily I haven't had to put this to use yet, but it's super easy to toss it in my pack or back pocket for a ride. It takes up almost no space and is great to have handy in the event of a larger puncture. I know it will get me out of a bind. I pair this with my other get home tools (spare valves, valve core, quick links, tire boot, velcro wrap, derailleur hanger) to ensure that if something catastrophic happens on the trail, I'll have the best chance possible to ensure I can ride out of wherever I'm located as quickly as possible.
In a year when people have to ride alone, the failure of this product was a HUGE letdown. First, the (fresh) Stan's sealant in my tire wouldn't seal up (small puncture mid tread on a Panaracer GK - no excuse for that). Then, like other reviewers have experienced, the tip broke off the DART plug. I tried the other side of the tool and, this attempt, the post the tip is attached to snapped. So I took the working plug off the broken side of the tool and switched it to the working side. Got the plug into the tire this time without breaking it but it never sealed up (had to stop every 5-10 mins to add air for 90 mins to get out of the woods). Why didn't I put a tube in? Because I hoped it would seal up (and because I bought this product specifically to avoid the giant mess of putting a tube in a tire full of sealant trail side). I run tubeless on all my bikes (except tubulars for CX) and this under engineered product has cost Stan's a customer for any of their products.
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